Commonwealth Games organizers said that the Opening Ceremony, which is "due to begin" at Celtic Park at 8pm on Wednesday, will "potentially have a global audience of 1.5 billion," according to Oliver Pickup of the London TELEGRAPH. The ceremony will "certainly have more than a dollop of local flavour, and 'a distinctly Glaswegian accent.'" Home-grown "heroes and heroines" have been "lined up to entertain in the two-hour extravaganza, which will take place in the 40,000-seater home of Celtic Football Club." Each of the 6,500 athletes from 70 nations will be "introduced to the crowd by a different citizen of Glasgow." Musician Rod Stewart, West Lothian-reared Susan Boyle, 53, who starred in 2009's Britain's Got Talent, and East Dunbartonshire's Amy Macdonald will feature. Scottish classical violinist Nicola Benedetti will "also take the stage, among some 2,000 fellow cast and crew in the firework-heavy show" (TELEGRAPH, 7/22). In Sydney, Margie McDonald wrote "Scottish surprises are in store" for the 70,000 spectators, but Australian netball captain Laura Geitz is hoping for "at least one traditional component from the Highlands hosts." Geitz: "I'm a big fan of bagpipes so hopefully they've included those." Australian Chef de Mission Steve Moneghetti said that team officials had been given a "brief overview, mainly to learn the timings of the athletes parade so they could prepare team members." Moneghetti tantalized those wanting to know if there will be "any Braveheart-style entrance by Scottish actors and dancers, clad in their tartans wielding swords and axes." Moneghetti: "It's certainly got some strong Scottish parts to it -- some that are expected and some not expected. There may be surprises from the hints we’ve been given" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 7/22).
TECH SHOWCASE: Brand experience agency Jack Morton Worldwide has been tasked with creating a "technology showcase for BP" during the Commonwealth Games, according to Kim Benjamin of EVENT MAGAZINE. The agency "has also been tasked with conceiving, planning and delivering" the Games' Opening Ceremony. The ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday at Celtic Park, involves "2,000 cast members, who will perform in front of an audience of 40,000." More than 1 billion people are "expected to watch the event on television" (EVENT MAGAZINE, 7/22).
